THE VOICE OF THE FATHERS

I Samuel 4

Spiritual fathers please heed this warning. YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS NEED YOUR VOICE! Yes, they need your love, direction, and encouragement. But they also need you to be man enough to "tell them like it is" and bring correction to their lives when needed.

Thousands of sons and daughters are lost. Some are in ministry, some are in politics, some are in business, and some are at home crying out "Lord, send me a mentor, send me someone who can help me on this spiritual journey!"

One of the problems is that the Spiritual fathers are too busy doing what they call ministry. While others are too scared to discipline their sons and daughters.We must remember that real ministry starts at home first then spreads to the world. This means first be a leader to your biological children if you have any. Then take that anointing and father your spiritual children.

Eli made this mistake with his sons, Hophni and Phinehas. These boys were lying with the women of the temple and doing other detestable things in the house of God. But Eli, the high priest, did nothing. His position as high priest gave him the authority to remove his sons from their position of priest. He could have even had them executed. But naw, nice loving Eli lacked the courage and the gumption to deal harshly with his rebellious sons.

As a result God sent a word to Eli that he would break the strength of his house. Hophni and Phinehas both were slain in battle on the same day and the ark was taken. When Eli heard the news that the ark was taken,  the bible says in I Samuel 4:18 that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate and broke his neck!

All of this could have been avoided if Eli had taken his rightful place as a father, firmly corrected his sons and brought order to their lives. Our admonishment to every father and spiritual father is to:

• Take your rightful place as the priest of your home and church


• Don't fear to correct your children. If you love them you will correct them


• Bring order to their lives


• Make them accountable 

Fathering is a gift from the "FATHER". As leaders, let us follow his pattern and his example. Let's raise sons not bastards.

P2  THE ALIGNMENT OF THE SONS

 Hebrews 12:4-11 

4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. 5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,  “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,  and don’t give up when he corrects you.6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves,  and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”  7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? 10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons/KJV 

Acccording to the Forerunner Commentary the book of Hebrews was written to a group of people who were fading away in their walk toward salvation. They were going through some pretty difficult trials, but they were not facing up to them.  The underlying theme here is chastening. Many modern translations will use the word "discipline," and technically, it is closer in meaning to the Greek word. Discipline covers formal instruction, but it also includes drill. Drill is associated with learning something repetitively—over and over again till we get it. Discipline also includes punishment: spanking, rebuke, stern correction. 

As sons and daughters of God we should expect correction and rebuke. Yes, God is a God of love and that's exactly why correction and rebuke is part of his process. He loves us. Therefore because of his love for us he starts the process off kind of easy. The rebuke and correction becomes more stern as we fail to respond according to his word. His desire is for all of his children to develop into mature sons and daughters that exemplify Christ.

Many in the body of Christ are independent rebels not sons. The bible calls them bastards. The Hebrew word for bastard is mamzer,which means polluted, illegitimate offspring, foreigner, one who does not share in the priviledges of God's children. These rebels despise the chastening of the Lord. Their ears are closed to the correction of their Spiritual covering therefore they reap disorder, no peace, confusion, lack, obscurity and all the other benefits that satan has to offer.

Hebrews 12:10 says the chastening of the Lord is for our profit so that we will be partakers of his holiness. Verse 11 goes on to explain that yes it may be grievous for a season and not joyous but eventually this process will yield the peacebable fruit of righteousness.

Sons of God, make a decision to align with the perfect will of God for your life. If you don't have a spiritual covering pray and ask God to lead you to one. Then submit to the Lord by submitting yourselves to that spiritual leader as long as God says. Listen and be obedient to all that the Lord commands you to do. Serve and help the man of God fulfill the vision. The bible promises that when we do these things we will surely prosper. Remember that your job as the son is to submit to the father. Don't try to tell your spiritual father what is best for you. If he's called and chosen of God believe me God will show him and you. Don't usurp authority. Always honor your covering for he is the minister of God.

Lincoln & Lyneta Dent